scholarly journals For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Carpentieri ◽  
Marta Arzarello
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Core Technology ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Lower Pleistocene ◽  
Great Heterogeneity ◽  
Italian Context ◽  
Methodological Evaluation

Abstract The opportunistic debitage, originally adapted from Forestier’s S.S.D.A. definition, is characterized by a strong adaptability to local raw material morphology and its physical characteristics and it is oriented towards flake production. Its most ancient evidence is related to the first European peopling by Homo sp. during Lower Pleistocene starting from 1.6 Ma and gradually increasing around 1 Ma. In these sites a great heterogeneity of the reduction sequences and raw materials employed is highlighted, bringing to the identification of multiple technical behaviours. However, the scientific community does not always agree on associating the concepts of opportunism and method to describe these lithic complexes. The same methodological issues remain for the Middle Pleistocene where, simultaneously to an increase of the archaeological evidence and the persistence of the opportunistic debitage, the first bifacial complexes are attested. Further implications concerning the increasing complexity highlighted in core technology management are now at the centre of an important debate regarding the genesis of more specialized method (Levallois and Discoid) especially during MIS 12 and MIS 9. We suggest that the opportunistic debitage could be the starting point for this process, carrying within itself a great methodological and cultural potential.

scholarly journals For our world without sound. The opportunistic debitage in the Italian context: a methodological evaluation of the lithic assemblages of Pirro Nord, Cà Belvedere di Montepoggiolo, Ciota Ciara cave and Riparo Tagliente.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Carpentieri ◽  
Marta Arzarello
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Core Technology ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Lower Pleistocene ◽  
Great Heterogeneity ◽  
Italian Context ◽  
Methodological Evaluation

The opportunistic debitage, originally adapted from Forestier’s S.S.D.A. definition, is characterized by a strong adaptability to local raw material morphology and its physical characteristics and it is oriented towards flake production. Its most ancient evidences are related to the first European peopling by Homo sp. during Lower Pleistocene starting from 1.6 Ma and gradually increasing around 1 Ma. In these sites a great heterogeneity of the reduction sequences and raw materials employed is highlighted, bringing to the identification of multiple technical behaviours. However, the scientific community does not always agree on associating the concepts of opportunism and method to describe these lithic complexes. The same methodological issues remain for the Middle Pleistocene where, simultaneously to an increase of the archaeological evidences and the persistence of the opportunistic debitage, the first bifacial complexes are attested. Further implications concerning the increasing complexity highlighted in core technology management are now at the centre of an important debate regarding the genesis of more specialized method (Levallois and Discoid) especially during MIS 12 and MIS 9. We suggest that the opportunistic debitage could be the starting point for this process, carrying within itself a great methodological and cultural potential.

Differential Raw Material Use in the Middle Pleistocene of Spain: Evidence from Sierra de Atapuerca, Torralba, Ambrona and Aridos

1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Mosquera Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Economic Perspective ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Material Procurement ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
The Way

This article reviews the evidence for planning behaviour in Middle Pleistocene hominids. It documents the way in which raw material procurement and tool production were structured during the Middle Pleistocene occupations of the Spanish sites of Sierra de Atapuerca, Torralba, Ambrona and Aridos. Differences in the use of raw materials for different kinds of tool or end-product allow inferences to be drawn about pre-Neanderthal intentionality and cognitive ability. The overall pattern of technological behaviour demonstrated by this study is far removed from the purely ‘opportunistic’ and can reasonably be described as involving both forethought and planning. The work is presented from a techno-economic perspective based on the differential use of raw material types present in the lithic assemblages of these sites, and the proximity of sources of these raw materials in the surrounding landscape.

scholarly journals Between the flake and the blade: Associated systems of production at Riparo Tagliente (Veneto, northern Italy)

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Carmignani
Keyword(s):  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Western Germany ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Italian Context ◽  
Complex Scenario ◽  
Evolutionary Continuity ◽  
Mis 5 ◽  
Blade Production

The Riparo Tagliente site (Verona, Italy) shows three macro phases in which high technological variability can be observed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the specific role of the Middle Paleolithic blade production within this variability. Preliminary results show a complex scenario in which the role of the blade is strictly linked with flake production through mixed reduction systems. Two different approaches were used for analysing the lithic assemblages from the site. The first analysis focused on the identification of the reduction systems by determining the techniques, methods and concepts underlying the entire chaîne opératoire.  The second approach concentrated on analysing blade production in order to identify its variability. Evidence of blade technology from the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 8-6) has been found in northern Europe (France, Belgium). Later, during MIS 5 blades can be found over a larger area, this time also including north-western Germany and the central-southern part of France. A third period (MIS 4-3) marks the appearance of laminar production in southern Europe, including in the Italian peninsula. Based on the present state of research these three phases appear to be on-and-off events without clear evolutionary continuity. By repositioning the sequence of Riparo Tagliente within the Italian context we can observe that at the end of the Mousterian period the technological patterns differ greatly, with laminar production being one of its most evident expressions. The origin of this fragmentation is questionable.

scholarly journals Studies of technology in prehistoric archaeology

2011 ◽  
pp. 465-480
Author(s):  
Selena Vitezovic
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Complex Analysis ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Social Foundations ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Material Choice ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
High Level ◽  
Organization Of Production

Technology studies have always been the most important focus of archaeology, as a science which analyzes human past through the study of material culture. To say that something is technological in archaeology, means to put the concept of technology in the centre of theoretical studies, and to study not only the form of the object, but also the entire sequence of technological factors, from raw material choice, mode of use, up to the reasons for abandonment. The concept of technology in anthropology and archaeology is based on the original meaning of the word ????? in ancient Greek, meaning the skill, i. e., to study how something is being done. Such a concept of technology as a skill or mode of doing something was for the first time outlined by the French anthropologist Marcel Mauss, whose starting point was that every technological statement was at the same time social or cultural statement and that technological choices have social foundations. Pierre Lemonnier further developed the anthropology of technology, focusing on the question of technological choices, as well as numerous other anthropologists. In archaeology, the most important contribution to the study of technology was the work of Andr? Leroi-Gourhan, who created the concept of cha?ne op?ratoire, as an analytical tool for studying the mode of creating, using and discarding an artefact, starting with raw material acquisition, mode of manufacture, final form, use (including caching, breaking and repairing) up to the final discarding. It is not only about reconstructing the algorithmic sequence of operations in creating one object, but it is a complex analysis of operational chain within one society which includes the analysis of technological choices. The analyses of technologies today include a variety of different approaches, most of them with emphasis on the cultural and social aspects of technology. The analysis of bone industry in the Early and Middle Neolithic in central Balkans (Starcevo culture), which included not only final objects, but also manufacture debris and semi-finished products, revealed a well developed industry, with a high level of technological knowledge on the properties of raw materials, skillful manufacture, well organized production, as well as possibility of a certain degree of specialization on the micro and macro level (within one settlement and within a group of settlements). Both raw material choices and manufacturing techniques, as well as the final forms, demonstrated a high standardization level. Also certain symbolic value was attributed to some raw materials, and there is a possibility that skill itself was valued. Further analyses of multiple technologies will help in reconstructing the organization of production, social and economic aspects in Neolithic societies, as well as the role of technology in everyday and ritual life.

scholarly journals Uma perspetiva diacrónica da ocupação do concheiro do Cabeço da Amoreira (Muge, Portugal) a partir da tecnologia lítica

2020 ◽  
pp. 733-744
Author(s):  
Joana Belmiro ◽  
João Cascalheira ◽  
Célia Gonçalves
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Clear Distinction ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Raw Material Variability ◽  
Technological Analysis

This study presents preliminary results from a technological analysis of lithic artefacts from the Mesolithic shellmidden of Cabeço da Amoreira (Muge, Portugal). The main goal was to understand the technological and raw material variability within the two main excavation areas of the site, in order to characterize the different occupation moments. A typological and attribute approach was used in the analysis. The results suggest a clear distinction of the lithic assemblages, associated with the sedimentary differences identified in the composition of the several layers. This separation can be found mostly in the frequencies of raw materials, cores and retouched tools.

scholarly journals Preliminary results of the first lithic raw material survey in the piedmont zones of Kazakhstan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abay Namen ◽  
Patrick Cuthbertson ◽  
Aristeidis Varis ◽  
Patrick Schmidt ◽  
Zhaken Taimagambetov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Material Transfer ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Heterogeneous Distribution ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Lithic Raw Material

The study of raw materials focuses on different aspects of hominin behaviour such as mobility strategies, land-use patterns and raw material transfer. They were comprehensively studied in the Palaeolithic of Europe and Africa. However, systematic studies of raw material sourcing have not been undertaken for the Palaeolithic of Kazakhstan, such surveys being embedded in reconnaissance works aimed at discovering new Palaeolithic sites. Our study presents preliminary results of the first lithic raw material survey in Kazakhstan. The study is based on outcrop surveying, collecting and sampling of potential sources of raw materials, and on a substantial literature review. The current study distinguishes the geographic patterns of land-use and their correlation with the lithic assemblages from stratified sites. Here, we describe primary and secondary sources of raw materials, and compare them macroscopically with the assemblages of stone tools. The survey results show a heterogeneous distribution of raw materials throughout the study regions. Macroscopic observations of lithic assemblages, and data extracted from literature suggest that hominins primarily selected locally occurring raw materials. Additionally, regional difference in the utilisation of a particular type of raw material which can be observed through the macroscopic examination of the lithic collections are confirmed by survey results.

scholarly journals New Perspectives on the Problems of the Exploitation Area and the Prehistoric Use of the Buda Hornstone in Hungary

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 167-189
Author(s):  
Norbert Faragó ◽  
Réka Katalin Péter ◽  
Ferenc Cserpák ◽  
Dávid Kraus ◽  
Zsolt Mester
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Early Bronze Age ◽  
Copper Age ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Siliceous Rocks ◽  
Middle Bronze Age

The mountainous areas of the Carpathian basin have provided a wide spectrum of siliceous rocks for prehistoric people. Although the presence of outcrops of a kind of chert, named Buda hornstone was already known by geological and petrographic investigations, the developing Hungarian petroarchaeological research did not pay much attention to this raw material. Its archaeological perspectives have been opened by a discovery made at the Denevér street in western part of Budapest in the 1980s. During the excavations of the flint mine, not much was known about the distribution of this raw material in the archaeological record. Since then the growing amount of archaeological evidences showed that its first significant occurrence in assemblages can be dated to the Late Copper Age Baden culture, and it became more abundant through the Early Bronze age Bell-Beaker culture until the Middle Bronze Age tell cultures. Until now, 15 outcrops of the Buda hornstone have been localised on the surface. Based on thin section examinations taken from two different outcrops, we have made a clear distinction between three variants. In the last few years, archaeological supervision has been conducted during house constructions, suggesting the Buda hornstone occurrence takes the form of a secondary autochthonous type of source. In the framework of our research program, a systematic check of the raw materials is planned in the lithic assemblages of the nearby prehistoric sites, as well as to look for extraction pits or other mining features with the application of geophysical methods and a thorough analysis of the surface morphology

scholarly journals Comparison of the Rheological Properties of Plant Proteins from Various Sources for Extrusion Applications

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1700
Author(s):  
Patrick Wittek ◽  
Goeran Walther ◽  
Heike P. Karbstein ◽  
M. Azad Emin
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Rheological Properties ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Extrusion Process ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Plant Proteins ◽  
Plant Origin ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Protein Rich

Plant proteins in foods are becoming increasingly popular with consumers. However, their application in extruded products remains a major challenge, as the various protein-rich raw materials (e.g., from different plant origins) exhibit very different material properties. In particular, the rheological properties of these raw materials have a distinct influence on the extrusion process and must be known in order to be able to control the process and adjust the product properties. In this study, process-relevant rheological properties of 11 plant-based protein-rich raw materials (differing in plant origin, protein content, and manufacturer) are determined and compared. The results demonstrate distinct differences in the rheological properties, even when plant origin and protein content are identical. Time sweeps reveal not only large differences in development of viscosity over time, but also in magnitude of viscosity (up to 15-fold difference). All materials exhibit gel behaviour and strain thinning behaviour in the strain sweeps, whereas their behaviour in the non-linear viscoelastic range differs greatly. Typical relaxation behaviour of viscoelastic materials could be observed in the stress relaxation tests for all materials. Comparison of the maximum achieved shear stress, which correlates with the elastic properties, reveals an up to 53‑fold difference. The results of this study could serve as a starting point for adapting raw material selection and composition to process and product design requirements and help to meet the challenge of applying plant-based proteins in food extrusion.

Ceramic Raw Materials

2016 ◽  
pp. 86-100
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Montana
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Ceramic Paste

Any ceramic object represents the result of a well-structured production chain starting with the localization and the exploitation of a suitable raw material and ending with the artisanship and craftsmanship of the potter. The study of ceramic raw materials has been increasingly regarded in archaeometric research as the best starting point for identifying local paste recipes for pottery diachronically produced in any historical period. The classification of a ceramic paste and its assignment to a production center can be established more easily when ceramic sherds, kiln wasters, and raw material are studied in combination. The reconstruction of the “production chain” should facilitate the study of specific kiln sites or wider regional ceramic circulation. The chapter deals with the most relevant compositional and physical properties of clayey ceramic raw materials. Mineralogical and chemical compositions are discussed together with some characteristic properties such as plasticity, swelling, flocculation, and experimental texts.

scholarly journals Identification of Bifacial Components in Middle Paleolithic Techno-Complexes (Based on the Chagyrskaya Cave Assemblages)

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 98-111
Author(s):  
Ksenia A. Kolobova ◽  
Alena V. Shalagina ◽  
Sergey V. Markin ◽  
Andrey I. Krivoshapkin
Keyword(s):  
Pattern Analysis ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Experimental Modelling ◽  
Reduction Sequence ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Complete Set

Previously, occasional bifacial tools found in different industrial variants of the Altai Middle Paleolithic were not considered as cultural markers that could be used to differentiate the technological/cultural variants. They rather were a bright but situational manifestation of the typological variability, especially in the case of the Sibiryachikha assemblages. Purpose. The article discusses various research approaches used to determine and evaluate the bifacial component in the Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages, namely attributive analysis with a set of specific attributes, scar-pattern analysis and experimental modelling. Results. As a result of recent studies at the site Chagyrskaya Cave, the key-site of Sibiryachikha, we found out that all the bifaces were made using plano-convex technology. In the Chagyrskaya Cave assemblage all stages of bifacial production have been noticed? including pre-forms, bifacial tools and tools made on bifacial thinning flakes, accompanied by numerous bifacial thinning flakes and bifacial thinning chips. Re-investigation of the Okladnikov assemblage should bring a new, previously unknown series of technical spalls related to the bifacial plano-convex technology. A similar situation is with Karabom complexes, where all bifacial tools are made using bi-convex bifacial technology. Thus, criteria for technological distinction of bifacial production are of special importance. Conclusion. Our experiments have shown that the proportion of chips associated with bifacial production is much higher than it can be determined while analyzing archaeological assemblages. Taking in account the new data on bifacial technologies in the region, we conclude that variability of Middle Paleolithic complexes has become more complex. To evaluate the bifacial component in Paleolithic assemblages, all stages of bifacial flaking should be documented, including bifacial pre-forms, technical spalls related to bifacial reduction sequence, chips, blanks which demonstrate bifacial flaking errors and tools made on bifacial thinning flakes and bifacial tools. A complete set of bifacial production is present at the Chagyrskaya Cave assemblage due to the fact that the cave was constantly visited and had a sufficiently long habitation cycle as a source of raw materials. In the assemblage, a complete sequence of lithic raw material exploitation was processed. Taking into account the fact that Chagyrskaya Cave and Okladnikov Cave are associated only with Neanderthal remains, it can be assumed that bifacial plano-convex technology in the Middle Paleolithic of Altai is linked to Neanderthal population in the region.

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